June 5, 2024 Israel-Hamas war
Large crowds of young Israeli nationalists pushed their way through the narrow streets of Jerusalem’s Old City intimidating, and in some cases attacking, Palestinian shopkeepers and journalists, as they marked Jerusalem Day in what has become the traditional fashion.
The annual event marks the capture of the eastern part of Jerusalem by Israeli forces during the Six Day War in 1967. In recent years it has taken the form of a rally of right-wing religious Israelis, with anti-Palestinian songs and chants becoming standard.
After gathering at the Damascus Gate entrance to the Old City, the mostly young men, many in religious clothing, many others carrying Israeli flags, passed through the gateway and made their way through what is known as the Islamic quarter towards the Western Wall, the most religious place Jews are allowed to pray.
Videos either shot or obtained by CNN showed groups of young men intimidating shopkeepers. Other videos showed them shouting, “Death to Arabs” and “Burn Down the Villages,” a reference to Palestinian homes. Another video showed a group of young men singing and dancing on the Aqsa Mosque compound, where Jews are allowed to visit but not pray.
A CNN crew outside the Damascus Gate witnessed bottles and sticks being thrown at TV crews. An Israeli journalist working for Haaretz newspaper said he was among a group of about ten people thrown to the floor by the nationalists and given a kicking. Police intervened, he said, and pulled him and others to safety.
Eighteen people had been arrested on suspicion of violent offenses, assault, threats, and disorderly conduct, police said.
The two political figureheads of Israel’s far-right, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, both made an appearance at the rally, which comes as Israel’s war in Gaza approaches its ninth month.
Further underlining the unique status of Jerusalem as a trigger in the wider, decades-long, conflict, a statement from Hamas’s political leader Ismail Haniyeh said the nationalists’ actions showed that “Jerusalem is the core of the conflict, and our people will not rest until the occupation departs and the independent Palestinian state is established with its capital in Jerusalem.”
On the same Jerusalem Day occasion three years ago, after weeks of building tensions in the city, Hamas triggered an 11-day war with Israel when it launched six rockets towards Jerusalem sending air raid sirens blaring for the first time in years.